Under 800 g: excellent for a simple soft bag
Models such as CabinZero Classic 28L or Cabin Max Metz 30L show that travel bags can stay near 600 g. This is especially useful if you walk a lot or want to maximise useful carried weight.
800 g to 1.2 kg: normal for structured bags
Laptop padding, firmer backs, pockets, straps and thicker fabric add weight. Around 1 kg can still be a strong balance of comfort, protection and capacity.
Above 1.5 kg: ask what you gain
Wheels, telescopic handles and hard shells easily explain 1.6–2.2 kg. That can be comfortable at airports, but less rational if you will carry the bag often.
Packed weight depends more on contents than capacity
For three days, clothing, chargers, toiletries and shoes can quickly add 4–7 kg. Removing duplicates and a second pair of shoes often saves more weight than any bag choice.
Airline rules still come first
EasyJet allows a small cabin bag up to 15 kg provided you can carry it yourself. Other airlines may apply different limits. Always check the current policy and your ticket.
Our benchmark
For a soft underseat weekend bag, roughly 600–900 g empty is very comfortable. Up to 1.2 kg is sensible when organisation and protection add value. Above that, wheels, shell or features should genuinely justify the extra weight.
How we work
We verify information, cite sources where relevant and date our updates. Prices, availability and rules that may change should always be checked again with the relevant source or service.
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